Hunting Aurora

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I don't know how long I stood there, lost in thought before being startled back to reality from a sudden rustle of leaves behind me, followed by a sudden pain as my wind was knocked right out of my lungs and I got slammed onto my back, hitting my head hard against the rock surface.

I was more surprised than anything else, It wasn't the norm that I was caught off guard, but I quickly regained my focus, ready to attack... only to be amazed yet again as my eyes landed on Aurora, who had pinned me down and used her weight to straddle me. Even though she caught me off guard and she did hurt me in doing so, I couldn't help but smile at her.

Me: "Fuck Aurora! You almost gave me a heart attack" trying to sound annoyed at her childish behaviour. However it was only when she just snarled down at me, that I noticed the distant look in her no longer icy blue eyes. Her eyes were black and for the first time since I've known Aurora, I understood what everyone meant when they stated that she loses herself.

I was face to face with Aurora, yet this wasn't her. In fact she could have been a complete stranger. Her eyes were dark and gave the impression of being hollow, as if her soul was no longer part of her. She looked at me but didn't see me, for me...she looked right through me, she didn't recognise me, and seeing her like that scared me.

Me: "Aurora!...It's me, William" I yelled at her, hoping she would snap out of this trance like state, but instead she just growled at me and tried to take off, only to be blocked by what I could only describe as the invisible magical barrier surrounding the stone platform.

The magick Gaia spoke about, that bound this secret place, held Aurora prisoner and even though she had no vampire abilities or any magick within this space, it didn't make her any less dangerous. In fact I was very worried about my own safety at that point.

Aurora was like a bewildered, trapped animal who just wanted to get to safety. If she though I stood between her and her freedom, there's no guessing what she would be capable off.

I stood quietly, trying not to draw attention to myself...taking the time to study and access her. As long as I stayed perfectly still, it was as if she was not even aware of my presence. She was too occupied with trying to find a way to escape.

It was shocking to see the great Vampire Queen, a beautiful, strong and powerful creature in the state she was in now. She had been on the run for weeks, her clothes were dirty, tattered and torn. Her hair was wild, filled with pieces of twigs and dry grass. She had dirt marks over her body but what worried me was her body was also filled with lacerations and bruises, some were older which meant she wasn't healing. Not only was she hurt but she was also alarmingly thin and pale...even for vampire standards.

I felt my heart sink, she was probably starving and frightened. No wonder she never wanted to give in to her magick side...if this is how she became when she did. It was only now that I realise how she became when she gave in to this side of her, not only that but she has been in this state for far too long.

I felt a renewed pity for everything she has had to endure in her life, the things she's been through...as well as a growing anger towards Robert. How could any man do what he did to her. And he wanted people to believe that he loved her. He loved her so much that if he couldn't own her... if he couldn't control her, he would rather kill her. My thoughts went back to Alex's notes and the things he told me on our search, the way Robert had tortured her, he had her family killed...everyone she ever cared for he killed. He had her raped and
raped her himself. The damage this one bastard caused. If it was any other person...no one would have been able to endure a lifetime of this.

Aurora resorted to pacing up and down, mumbling incoherently to herself...as if having an argument with her inner self, visibly annoyed that she was trapped. She seemed like a crazy person, all because she gave into this side of her... as a result of losing yet another person she cared about, again at the hands of Robert. This was all his doing, but I couldn't help but feel guilty. In some way I was to blame too. If I didn't accept the contract, he wouldn't have had The General killed...and she wouldn't have been overcome with such grieve.